Method of making combs



March 8, 1949. c. MARIN! 2,463,894

METHOD OF MAKING COMBS Filed Nov. 29, 1945 INVEN TOR.

Cog maze. MARINI Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING COMBS Costanzo Marini, Leominster, Mass.

Application November 29, 1945, Serial No. 631,657

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and improved methods of producing combs having resilient teeth in contacting engagement for the purpose of retaining the comb in the hair. One example of this type of comb is the well known split tooth comb as disclosed n the drawings of this case.

Objects of this invention include the provision of a method for molding combs having teeth in spaced relation, 1. e., out of contact, so that the comb may be molded as for instance by injection molding, the method consisting of distorting the teeth of the molded comb so as to bring the side edges of the individual teeth into contact; and the provision of a method as above stated in which the distortion may be accomplished by either tension or compression.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a finished comb in condition for use;

Fig. 2 shows a blank as molded prior to the distortion step;

Fig. 3 illustrates one manner of applying pressure to the comb blank to accomplish the distortion of the teeth;

Fig. 4 shows a difierent manner of distortion of the teeth; and

Fig. 5 shows a still further method.

The comb as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a back I0 solidly connecting a series of teeth each of which has a smooth closed end I2, said ends being spaced. Each tooth comprises a pair of separated side runs I4 defining an oval or boatshaped central opening I6. It is to be noted that the side runs I4 are in close engagement with the adjacent side runs of adjacent teeth and this construction results in a comb having resilient split teeth which will hold the hair as for instance in openings I8 defined by the teeth between the roots thereof.

Fig. 2 shows the comb of Fig. 1 but as molded for instance in an injection molding machine or otherwise. In this case, it will be seen that the teeth are longer and narrower and the side runs I4 do not touch and are provided with sufiicient spacing so that the mold may be made to cast or mold the comb blank of Fig. 2 just as shown.

In order to form the teeth of the comb blank of Fig. 2 into the tooth shape of Fig. 1, it has been found that pressure may be exerted at the back of the comb and on the free ends of the teeth as illustrated by dies in Fig. 3, and by squeezing the comb in the direction of the lengths of the teeth, the side runs I4 will greatly widen or how out to come into contact with the adjacent side runs of adjacent teeth to provide the comb as shown in Fig. 1.

If the comb blank of Fig. 2 is molded on an are as shown in dotted lines at 22, a die 24 may be made to receive the blank and. a hammer or die 28 may be used to press down upon the bowed blank 22 to bring the same into a fiat conformation, or on a greater arc, as shown in full lines at 28. This action will spread the teeth as before as long as the blank is prevented from extending in the direction of the lengths of the teeth, as by shoulders 30.

Another manner in which the teeth of the blank of Fig. 2 may be spread is shown in Fig.

wherein there is provided a die 32 having openings 3?- for the accommodation of a series of pins 36, on a hammer or die 38. The spaced teeth i l are arranged as shown in Fig. 5 and the die 38 is depressed so that pins 36, which are wider than the openings in the original blank, will force the runs I4 apart and into contact as above stated.

It is contemplated that the distortions of the teeth will be done while the blank is heated sufiiciently to allow the material to set in the desired form so that the runs I4 will not return to original position, but will remain as in the Fig. 1 showing.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. Method of making combs comprising the steps of forming a blank having spaced split teeth and shortening the teeth by pressure thus widening the splits so that the teeth are brought into contact with each other.

2. Method of making combs comprising the steps of forming a blank having spaced split teeth and widening the splits and shortening the teeth to bring the latter into edge to edge contact.

3. Method of making split tooth combs comprising the steps of forming a blank having split teeth, all of said teeth being on an are, providing stops for the ends of the teeth and back of the comb to prevent elongation of the teeth and then applying pressure transversely to the blank to tend to bring the latter more nearly to a flat form and to bring the teeth into touching engagement with adjacent teeth.

COSTANZO- MARINI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 979,744 Burke Dec. 2'7, 1910 1,092,884 Wieland Apr. 14, 1914 1,240,175 Burke Sept. 18, 1917 1,589,898 Reeves June 22, 1926 2,139,541 Farnsworth Dec. 6, 1938 2,196,815 Sawyer Apr. 4, 1940 2,273,190 Harrison Feb. 17, 1942 

